Combined header and supporting member



May 21, 1963 A. E. FRIDOLPH COMBINED HEADER AND SUPPORTING MEMBER Original Filed June 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ANNETTE E. FRIDOLPHV ATTORNEXS May 21, 1963 A. E. FRIDOLPH COMBINED HEADER AND SUPPORTING MEMBER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 25, 1942 Mm Mm,

INVENTOR ANNETTE E FRIDOLPH NW v 07 y 1963 A. E. FRIDOLPH COMBINED HEADER AND SUPPORTING MEMBER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 25, 1942 INVENTOR ANNETTE E. FRIDOLPH 12mm 4M9 {M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,090,072 COMBINED HEADER AND SUPPORTING IVEMBER Annette E. Fridolph, 461 Park Ave. 8., New York 16, NY.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 350,670, Apr. 23, 1953, which is a continuation of application Ser- No. 716,531, Dec. 16, 1946, now Patent No. 2,985,599, which is a division of application Ser. No. 443,405, June 25, 1942, now Re. 23,209, dated Mn. 21, 1950. This application Oct. 7, 1957, Ser. No. 683,617

3 Claims. (Cl. 16-95) This invention has to do with a combined header and supporting member, and has to do particularly with a unitary member which serves as a header jamb for windows or doors, and also as a traverse member for slidably supporting curtains and the like.

Before the advent of the modern metallic curtain and drapery rods, which are usually fastened in some way to the top frame of a window or door opening, it was common practice to form the traverse curtain or drapery rod of wood, usually of two or more parts, so fabricated as to form a slot in the assembled parts, and this rod was attached in some way to the window or door frame. Not only were these prior art wooden traverse members bulky in cross section and design, but the nature of the rollers and the like for supporting the curtain was such as to require a relatively large traverse member. Furthermore, like the modern metal curtm'n rods, the supporting hangers or rollers for the curtains and the like had to be removed from the curtains, drapes, and so forth to permit cleaning and washing of the latter. it also has been the practice, both in the old type wooden curtain rods and modern metallic curtain rods to provide peculiar shapes and arrangements of the sliding or carrying mem bers in the way of anti-friction devices or friction devices to control the sliding movement of the supporting members in the curtain rod.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a traverse or supporting member along the lines roughly suggested by the prior art such as the patent to Moore, No. 1,152,383, and to so improve the same that the traverse member is not only small and compact, such as the modern metallic curtain hanger, but to so arrange the same that the traverse member, in itself, forms the header jamb of the window or door opening; or, Vice versa, the standard header jamb of a window or door is so designed and arranged as to, in itself, form the traverse carrying member for curtains, drapes or the like. Any auxiliary curtain or drapery rod or hanger is completely eliminated because the standard small, neat appearing, header jamb of a door or window is in itself transformed into a curtain and/or drapery hanger.

A further feature of the invention, and one which makes possible the use of standard header members for window openings and the like, is that a fairly small T slot is formed in the integral header member and a small opening is formed in the end of the header member and in the vertical part of the T slot so as to permit assembly of the supporting member for the curtain and the like in said T slot. Additional features have to do with the design, shape and arrangement of these as sembly slots.

Other features have to do with details of design of the combined header member and supporting member and the connecting means for slidably supporting curtains and the like therein, as will be more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of what appears to be a conventional window frame provided with window curtains and drapes, the means for supporting the curtains and drapes not being visible.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FiGURE l and illustrating the manner of slotting the header members of the window frame to provide both a drapery traverse and a curtain traverse as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation of a combined curtain traverse and door molding or head, showing a single slot and aperture for receiving slider members.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a 'view similar to FIGURE 4 but show ing the aperture for receiving the heads of the slider members as a straight opening instead of an angular opening as in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5 and illustrating the use of a clip member for closing the aperture.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken through the aperture opening in FIGURE 3, but illustrating a modified shape in cross section adapted to receive a clip member for use in cases where the header member is not closed at the end by other portions of the window framework and the like.

FIGURES 8 and 9 are sectional views taken through the main portion of a combined molding and traverse member illustrating modifications in cross sectional shape.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a combined traverse and molding member of still slightly different cross sectional shape and illustrating a clip member for closing the aperture as well as the end of the slot.

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the unit shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURES 12 to 16 illustrate different types of insertable stop members for closing the apertures at the end of the slots.

FIGURE 17 illustrates the use of a pivoted stop member for closing apertures in a molding section having two slotted portions.

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drape showing one of a plurality of slider members sewed thereto and a clip member of the type illustrated in FIG- URE 6 for inserting in an aperture.

FIGURE 19 illustrates the incorporation of the invention in an ornamental member permanently secured to the corner of a door or window opening and containing three slotted portions.

FIGURE 20 is a View similar to FIGURE 19 showing the combined moldings and traverse members secured to the side and bottom of the header and having a double and single slot respectively.

FIGURE 21 illustrates a header member similar to FIGURES l9 and 20 but showing the traverse as being formed directly in the header member itself.

FIGURE 22 illustrates a modified form of my invention in which the side members of a standard window frame or the like are slotted to receive slide members secured to a blackout curtain and the like.

FIGURE 23 is a sectional view taken on line 23.23 of FIGURE 22.

FIGURE 24 illustrates a molding or frame unit provided with a triple slot.

FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating one form of wood traverse recessed into the plaster wall so that the surface of the traverse is flush with the surface of the wall.

A typical embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 where the same is shown as part of a window frame. Standard window sashes are illustrated as at 1 1 and the window frame for carrying the sashes is shown as having a standard bottom member 12, a side member 13 and a header member 14. Instead of using a standard solid header member I have provided a relatively small T-slot 15 which extends across the length of the header member 14.

The curtain or other hanging member is supported directly by this small T-slot in the header member and, as shown in FIGURE 1, this is accomplished by sewing slider members 16 directly to the top of the curtain 17, these slider members having enlarged head portions adapted to fit in any slide along the T-slot 15. This T-slot in many of the figures is shown relatively large, for purposes of illustration, and it will be understood that the T-slot is relatively small in cross sectional dimensions. It will thus be seen, in FIGURES 1 and 2, that I have pro vided a wooden traverse member which forms an integral part of and completes the window frame. This construc tion not only eliminates curtain rods and fixtures, etc., but it renders unnecessary additional fitxures of any type because the curtain traverse is formed directly within the window header itself.

If it is desired to hang drapes, in addition to the glass curtains, I may provide a second slot in the window header 14 or, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, I can provide a T-slot 18 in the window header trim 19. Slider members 16 may be sewed directly to the drapes 2t) and such slider members fitting in the T-slot 18 will carry and slide the drapes along the window trim member 19 used as a traverse member.

The preferred form of slider member construction is best shown in FIGURE 18, where the slider member 16 is shown as being formed of a length of cloth tape which terminates in an enlarged header portion. It will be understood that the header portions of the slider members may be reinforced in many different ways, such as by means of plastic or even short pieces of wood and the like, but in the preferred form such reinforcings are covered with cloth.

' The slider members 16 may be directly sewed to the top of the curtain, drape or the like, such as best shown in FIGURE 18, at regularly spaced intervals, or these slider members 16 may be sewed to a length of tape, in which case the slider members 16 are equally spaced and the enlarged head portions thereof are positioned uniformly in alignment. This complete unit may be purchased in given lengths and the tape portion thereof sewed to the top of the curtain or drape.

In FIGURES 3 to 11, and 18 to 23 I have shown different types and shapes of combined moldings and traverse members, and in all cases I prefer to provide an aperture at one or both ends of the slots formed in these combined moldings or traverse members. One form of such aperture is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein the combined molding and traverse is indicated as at 32, the bottom of the T-slot as at 33, the narrow slot as at 34 and the aperture as at 35. In this modification the aperture is formed at an angle and is of such sizeto readily receive the enlarged header portion of the slider member. It will be understood that the slot 34 may be very narrow and, of course, need be only of such width as to accommodate the tape or body portion of the slider member.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a few of manydifierent types of combined window headers and traverses that may be used, FIGURE 9 being the solid type such as shown in FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 8 the standard cut away type with the recessed portions 3 6. The form of the molding traverse shown in FIGURE is similar to that shown in FIGURE 7, in that FIGURE 7 has grooved portions 37 and the molding in FIGURE 10 has the tapered side members 38 being so formed as to receive clip members of. thetype shown in FIGURE 12, which comprise an end plate 39 for covering the end of the T-slot, aface portion 40 for covering the apertures 35 and side walls 41 forholding the clip members in place at the end or ends of the moldings; the clip member shown in FIGURE 10 is similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 except for the side portions which are flat instead of having inturned clamping flanges thereon.

A modified form of aperture for receiving the slider members is illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 17, wherein the walls of the aperture are perpendicular to the plane of the molding instead of being angular thereto as in FIGURES 3 and 4. In FIGURE 5 such aperture is designated 42 and its width is slightly less than the width of the base of the Tslot 33. In this arrangement of aperture and T-slot the end slider member normally moves over the aperture and it is not necessary to have any closure member for the aperture after the insertion of the slider members. In many cases, however, it may be desirable to have closure members for the apertures so as to insure that the slider will not accidentally be dislodged from the T-slot and in FIGURE 18 I have shown a spring snap member 43 having channel portions 44 of a width comparable to the width of the aperture 42 and embossed portions 45 adapted to fit in the ledge formed by the difference in width between the T-slot and the aperture. Such a clip member is shown in position in the aperture in FIGURE 6. In any case, it will be obvious that after all the slider members are inserted in position in the aperture at the end of the combined molding and traverse and slid along the T-slot, the clip member 43 can be snapped in place in the aperture and thus will not only fixably position the end of the curtain or drape but will prevent the same from being accidentally removed from the T-slot. In the case of double slot molding such as shown in FIGURE 17, I have provided a pivotally mounted latch 48 which may be moved in position over the apertures after the insertion of the slider members. The modified closure members in the form of plastic members may also be used, and in FIGURE 13 I have shown a member 49 having projections 50 adapted to be inserted in the aperture members to not only close the apertures but stop further movement of the slider members. In FIGURE 14 I have shown a similar member but with the stop members 51 so positioned as to fit into T-slots positioned in diiferent planes. In FIGURE 15 I have shown a plastic member having a portion 52 shaped to fit in a T-slot and having a top plate portion 53 for covering the aperture, and in FIGURE 16 I have shown a similar modified structure but with the stop members shown in pairs as at 54 to accommodate double slotted moldings as shown in FIG- URE 27.

Other adaptations are illustrated in FIGURES 19 to 24, the form shown in FIGURE '19 illustrating a triple slot molding member 59 having a bottom T-slot 60 adapted to take slider members supporting either a blackout or a glass curtain and a T-slot 61 adapted to receive slider members supporting draperies or draw curtains. Spaced moldings and traverse members are illustrated in FIGURE 20 where at 62 is shown a member similar to that disclosed in FIGURE 17 positioned at the side of a header 21mb or the like and a simple combined molding and traverse member positioned at the bottom as at 63 and of a shape comparable to that shown inFIGURE 8. In FIGURB ZI I have shown the header and traverse as being formed as a part of the complete header construction with the bottom of the molding unit 64 flush with the bottom of the header structure in general; the showing here is as of the end of the molding member with the aperture 42 spaced a short distance from the end of the molding member and the slot 33.

In FIGURES 22 and 23 I have illustrated a simple form of molding unit 14, as best shown in FIGURE 9, and the same is shown as positioned in the side frames 65 of a standard window frame; this arrangement is particularly adaptable for receiving slider members which may be connected to the sides of a blackout curtain 66. In installing such a blackout curtain 66 the header member may be similar to the header shown at 64 in FIGURE 21 and the blackout curtain may have slider members spaced along the top and along the side. There also may be slider members attached to the bottom of the blackout curtain 66, but instead of a single T-slot and single aperture which would be the case with a top header and two side members, I prefer to have a series of apertures spaced along the bottom member such as shown at 42 in FIGURE in this way it will be unnecessary to move the curtain transversely to insert the slider members but each one can be distorted slightly and inserted through its own individual aperture 42 and then moved into place in the T-slot; such an arrangement would give a blackout curtain secured on all four sides.

In FIGURE 24 I have illustrated a triple slot combined transverse and molding unit 67 which arrangement is particularly adapted for building into a boxed wooden valance.

In FIGURE 25 I have shown combined moldings and traverse member 68 having inwardly tapering side walls shown as being recessed into a =plastered wall whereby the faces of the traverse members 68 are flush with the faces 69 of the wall; in this manner one traverse may be used for glass curtains and the other traverse used for supporting drapes and the like.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 350,670, April 23, 1953, which in turn is a continuation of my application Serial No. 716,531, filed December 16, 1946, now Patent No. 2,985,590, which in turn is a division of application Serial No. 448,405, filed June 25, 1942, now Patent No. Reissue 23,209.

I claim:

1. A curtain and drapery support comprising an elongated member having a narrow slot extending lengthwise thereof and an enlarged recess located behind said slot and also extending lengthwise of said member and communicating with said slot and forming therewith a track substantially T-shaped in cross-section, said elongated member also having at least one enlargement in the slot extending into said recess, said enlargement having op posite ends inclined in the same direction relatively to the axis plane of said enlargement and a member movable relative to said elongated member for uncovering and for at least partially covering said enlargement.

2. The support set forth in claim 1, in which the enlargement covering member comprises a strip pivotally mounted on said elongated member adjacent to said enlargement and movable between a position overlying said enlargement and a position out of alignment with said enlargement.

3. The support set forth in claim 1 in which the en largement covering member comprises a clip removably engaging said member -for at least partially covering said enlargement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,209 Fridolph Mar. 21, 1950 841,044 Perry Jan. 8, 1907 1,152,383 Moore Aug. 31, 1915 1,175,136 Dickey et 'al Mar. 14, 1916 1,462,803 Deserty July 24, 1923 1,649,215 Brown Nov. 15, 1927 2,834,980 Fridolph May 20, 1958 

1. A CURTAIN AND DRAPERY SUPPORT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A NARROW SLOAT EXTENDING LENGTHWISE THEREOF AND AN ENLARGED RECESS LOCATED BEHIND SAID SLOT AND ALSO EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID MEMBER AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SLOT AND FORMING THEREWITH A TRACK SUBSTANTIALLY T-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION, SAID ELONGATED MEMBER ALSO HAVING AT LEAST ONE ENLARGEMENT IN THE SLOT 